Eric Reid says awareness has been raised, anthem protests are over

Colin Kaepernick has said he’d stand for future national anthems, and as soon as someone gives him a job he probably will.

But his former 49ers teammates say their days of kneeling for the anthem are over.

According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, 49ers safety Eric Reid said he and linebacker Eli Harold achieved their goal by raising awareness of the racial inequality which Kaepernick began protesting last year.

“When we started doing that, our goal was to open up the floor to conversation. I believe we’ve achieved that goal,” Reid said. “So now we just want to move forward and just partner with people that’s trying to make a change.

“We accomplished that goal. People talked about it. I think we raised a lot of awareness about issues in this country. And now it’s time to move on to just affecting change.”

Kaepernick has continued his charitable efforts while looking for work, though it’s hard to imagine his high-profile stance last year is helping in that regard. Reid said he’s stayed in touch with Kaepernick, and is surprised his former teammate is still without a team, and he sees a direct correlation.

“It’s surprising. You see some of the other quarterbacks that have been signed around the league and why he hasn’t been, it’s just unfortunate, . . .” Reid said. “It’s unfortunate, it’s sad. People want to shy away from him because of media, PR reasons.

“You’re doing something to better the world. I mean, the guy got a plane sent to Somalia to help with the famine there. He’s been doing things that if it were anybody else in a different situation without the anthem [protest], they’d be praising him and giving him awards for it.”

So far that hasn’t happened for Kaepernick, though tonight’s quarterback land rush will clear up a few jobs and trigger the market for the remaining free agents.

Wow. What men of integrity and honor. To stand up against a nation of tyranny like they did is truly inspiring. Sure, they’re quick to stand up and shut up when they realize this might affect their paychecks. I’m sure our veterans and active service men and women have been taught something by the, dare I say, heroic actions of Eric Reid. Eric Reid, you win biggest d-bag in the universe.

Our government may be the biggest violator of racial inequality. Walk into any court house and look who is working there. Additionally, colleges give certain races preferential treatment on entrance qualifications and cost of education.

Reed is a good player, but if he’s going to continue to Knee, he can leave also. This is More than just Football. I’m willing to drop Good Players if they are going to make political statements on the job. The NFL needs to step in and stop that and show some integrity. If they don’t, as much as I love football I’m going to boycott everything about the NFL .

charger383 says:
Apr 27, 2017 9:55 AM
It will take years for the smell to leave the 49ers. The brand is damaged
——
Nah, man, Shanny and Lynch have the Niners pointing in the right direction. That’s funny a Chargers fan would talk about being a damaged plan.

Apr 27, 2017 9:59 AM
Reed is a good player, but if he’s going to continue to Knee, he can leave also. This is More than just Football. I’m willing to drop Good Players if they are going to make political statements on the job. The NFL needs to step in and stop that and show some integrity. If they don’t, as much as I love football I’m going to boycott everything about the NFL .

When should they protest? When they visit there own home town? Or should they only protest to people of color?

Also men and women do not fight so that he can play football. They fight so that we can have freedoms. Those freedoms are what the flag stands for. The freedom to peacefully protest is also what the flag stands for. If you don’t support the freedom to peacefully protest, then you also don’t support the men and women fighting today, because that’s one of the things they are fighting for.

Also men and women do not fight so that he can play football. They fight so that we can have freedoms. Those freedoms are what the flag stands for. The freedom to peacefully protest is also what the flag stands for. If you don’t support the freedom to peacefully protest, then you also don’t support the men and women fighting today, because that’s one of the things they are fighting for.

—————————–//–

No one has a problem with peaceful protest. What people have a problem with is when you take your family to a ballgame ($400.00 tickets), $20.00 to park, $100.00 for food and drink, well, you’re on my time now. I don’t believe you should be able to protest while “on the clock”. I don’t spend $500 so my family and I can watch guys “protest.” If I pulled that crap while I’m at work they’d send me down the road kicking a can.

Of course he has the right to protest. And we have the right to call him an idiot and disagree with how he does it. And owners have the right to not want him on their team. And I have the right to point out that no one said he wasn’t allowed to protest whatever it is he thinks he was protesting, so I have the right to ask who it is you’re making your statement to. And men and women do fight so that he can play football. Our way of life is one of the many, many things our brave men and women fight for. Getting to enjoy millions of dollars for playing a kids game IS one of our many freedoms.

jvonblohnjvb0013 – Insulting police officers and praising Fidel Castro is hardly what I would consider “peaceful protesting”, but nobody has the right to protest peacefully or not at their place of employment. People have a right to protest and people also have a right to respond.

99% of comments have never stood for anything and don’t give a damn about the flag, military or veterans! I’ve seen these so-call patriotic people won’t as much as tip their hat to a veteran in need, that will roll up their windows to homeless veterans . Their hate is toward a black man with an awareness toward those who have no voice and those who have been overlooked by society. Colin Kaepernick did nothing more than use the flag and the anthem that’s suppose to stand for and represent freedom and justice for All-Americans. So if Colin Kaepernick did something wrong then most of you who are doing nothing are wrong by not holding our country, flag and government accountable for the rights of All-Americans. Football is a game and not a way of life! I applaud and will support Colin Kaepernick in his quest to support those that need our voice and our support.

99% of comments have never stood for anything and don’t give a damn about the flag, military or veterans! I’ve seen these so-call patriotic people won’t as much as tip their hat to a veteran in need, that will roll up their windows to homeless veterans . Their hate is toward a black man with an awareness toward those who have no voice and those who have been overlooked by society. Colin Kaepernick did nothing more than use the flag and the anthem that’s suppose to stand for and represent freedom and justice for All-Americans. So if Colin Kaepernick did something wrong then most of you who are doing nothing are wrong by not holding our country, fla99g and government accountable for the rights of All-Americans. Football is a game and not a way of life! I applaud and will support Colin Kaepernick in his quest to support those that need our voice and our support.

These so called patriotic fans always wanna pull the “Well if I did that at my job…” crap. How many of y’all jobs performs the National Anthem before the work day? I’ll wait…And please stop with the you don’t pay for a game ticket, parking, food and souvenir to watch a protest…I’m pretty sure you don’t pay all that to watch the anthem either that I’m sure a good portion of you are either late to, talk through or don’t even pay attention to. And for the last time, the kneeling IS NOT AN INSULT TO US VETS, when we need you to speak for us, we still won’t want ya to. Thanx

Yes, playing football is one of the freedoms we have and is preserved by those that serve.

But the flag does not only represent those that have and currently serve. It represents all of the U.S., good and bad. If you want to stand and salute all that is good, then do it, and I support you. I stand with you.

But if you are upset and want to also show how upset you are by the terrible things happening in our country and sit, then I support you as well.

Why doesn’t he say the real reason why they wont protest anymore ? Do you think that maybe every NFL player is seeing how well this is working out for Kaepernick ? No team will touch him and it has a lot to do with the protest and the negative attention that it brings along with it. NFL teams have enough issues to deal with like , domestic abuse , drugs , DUIs and other criminal activities that they don’t want to sign a player that may cause more of a distraction than the player is worth. These players have every right to protest how they feel is right for them. It doesn’t mean that everyone has to agree or tolerate it.

I love what Kaepernick did. The freedom of speech he is guaranteed under our constitution protects his ability to do so. And as a black man he is certainly more attuned to the depth and effects of racism in this country than I am.

That being said, this is another situation where teams are staying away from a player because of the baggage he brings and the damage he could do to their image. It’s the liberal side of the problem created when someone like Curt Schilling or Steve Clevenger runs off at the mouth with racist rhetoric and their employers (network and team, respectively) distance themselves from him. Kaepernick’s stance, while something I agree with, is no different. NFL teams have decided that he is too controversial to sign. That’s their right, just as it’s their right to avoid overtly racist coaches, announcers, players, etc. Now, if the NFL colluded to blackball Kaepernick, that has legal repercussions and becomes a new issue. Otherwise, liberals (myself included) who support Kaepernick’s stance can’t have it both ways.

I don’t think the NFL got together collectively and decided not to sign Kaepernick. I think if he was a QB they all had to have , he wouldn’t be in this position, in fact , he would be the QB for SF. Combine the protest with the fact he hasn’t been very good the past few seasons and you have the reason he is not signed. He will be on a roster this season and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was a starter somewhere in the future. He needs to get to a team and show them he wants to play and that being an NFL QB is his top priority.